Automatic typewriter



Feb. 12, 1 946. c, WWTEN Y ER 2,394,733

AUTOMATIC TYPEWi ZITER Filed March 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Shae; 2

| 'I H CO INVENTOR.

cARLos' WITTENMYER ATTORN EYS Feb; 12, 1946.

c. WITTENMYER AUTOMQTIC TYPEWRITER Filed March 5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ]NVENTOR.' CARLOS WITTENMYER ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1946. c, T NMYER 2,394,733

AUTOMATIC TYPEWRITER Filed March :5, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG.I9.

FIG.I7.

FIGJB.

I vvww 33s INVENTOR.

CARLOS WITTENMYER ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC TYPEWRITER Carlos Wittenmyer, Mount Cfemens, Mich.

Application March 3,1944, S'eriallNo. 524,876

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to typewriting machines and more specifically to means adjunct to electrically operated? typewriters.

Among the objects of the invention is a means for the automatic reproduction of matter written on the typewriter;

Another object is a means of automatic reproduction of all or a selected part or parts of suchmatter.

Still another object is a means for recording? or storing matter desired; to be repeated later any desired number of times.

Another object is a means for recording or storing: matter, that may be instantaneously put into or out of operation in conjunction'with a type writer so that the latter may be used also as an ordinary machine or for recording,

Still other objects will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon reference to the followin description and drawings, in which Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view of the mechanism acting in conjunction a typewriter key for recording or storing a key stroke, i. e., a typed character.

Figures 2 and 3 are similar views but with the parts in other positions.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the storage means and means for clearing.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the drive means for the storage means.

Figures 6' to 9 and are detail views of the drive means of Figure 5'. v

Figureslfl' and 11 show two forms of ameans to look all keys to prevent automatic writing.

Figure 12' shows mechanism for advancing the recording means step by step and also for back spacing.

Figure 13 shows the mechanism used to actuate the shift key.

Figure 14 illustrates mechanism for controlling automatic rewriting so as to reproduce predetermined sections of a record.

Figure 16 is enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the storage means.

Figure 1'1 shows more or less: diagrammatically a modified form of take-off for reproducing.

Figure 18 shows still. another iorrn oi take-off.

Figure 19- shows diagrammatically a proposed use of the invention.

Referring fiirst to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the bar so pivoted at 3|, represents the key bar or the typewriter, and, since the typewriter mechanism is not being in any way altered, none is being: shown. It should be understood that, when a key bar is depressed, the corresponding characterletter,v figure, or other-is printed. in the usual fashion.

In each key bar 30, however, is a notch 32, provided for a purpose to-be explained later and a hook or step 33,- the horizontal portion 33A extending forward as shown.

Mounted on a suitable frame (indicated at 200 in Figure 1) under the key bars 30, are a plurality of levers 35', (one for each key bar) pivoted at 36 and extending. forward to a point in front of the hook 33 and carrying a bell crank 31 pivoted as at 38.

To the other (rear) end of lever 35 is fixed one end of a spring 40 attached at its other end to an arm 4| swingable about a point 4 2 to a position against one of the stops 4'343A so as to be below or above a line through pivots 36 and 42 and thus tend to urge lever down or up as the case may be.

The bell crank 31 is so arranged that it is ordinarily maintained in the position of Figure 1 by means of a stop 45 and a spring 46, the latter being attached to the depending arm of the crank and to a suitable lug on the lever 35-, and has its horizontal arm extending rearwardly over the hook 33A.

As shown in Figure l, the bell crank 3'! has its upper end provided with a flattened portion cooperating with the key bar 30 so that, when the latter is depressed, the bell crank 31' is also depressed, the depression being resisted by the spring 4|) in the positionshown.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, directly beneath the mechanism just described and in alignment with the lower end of bell crank 3'! is a depressible pin which is a part of a recording or stroke storing element shown best in Figures 4 to 9 and 16'.

This recording element is a belt-like assembly made up of a series of bars 5| of such length as to mount as many pins 50 as there are key bars 30 or other control keys, each pin in a bar 5| being located under one of the bell cranks 31. The bars 5| are linked together to form a belt or chain as shown in Figure 4 and pass over suitable sprockets: 52.

The pins 50 are preferably L-shaped with the stem portion extending into suitable channels in the bars 5| and the horizontal portion extending rearwardly. Further, the stem portion and bar 5| are provided, with means to hold the in its upward position, such as a small crook 53A at the end or the stern and a depression or" groove 5|A in the bar (see Figures 2 and 1:8) Sinoe'the pins are or should be of spring material, such means will releasably maintain them in either acter.

elevated or-depressed position. It is of course obvious that as the key bars 39 are depressed, and thereby the bell cranks 3i, the pins 50 are also depressed.

In Figure 1 the parts are shown in the position occupied during the recording or storing operation. 1

In Figures 2 and 3 the parts are shown in the 1 position occupied during the automatic printing operation and illustiiate the printing I action," as

the conveyor moves. 1 In these two figures, the spring 45, through the movement of arm 4| against stop 43A, is biasedto pull up the adjacent end of lever 35 and consequently tends to pull down the bellcrank 3?.

Therefore, when the conveyor travels, the lower 3 end of the bellcrank Will ride on the tops of the undepressed pins 58 until it comes to a depressed pin, whereupon the lower arm of the bell crank drops into the space asin Figure 2. The next undepressed pin- 55 will thereupon swing the bellcrank 31 as in Figure 3 and, in so doing, the horizontal portion or nose of the bell crank, acting ,on the portion 33A of hook 33, pulls down the key bar 30, thus causing printing of the char- The lower end of the bell crank then moves along the tops of undepressed pins to until another depressed pin is encountered. V

In using the belt or recorder to set up a record of matter being written on the typewriter, eachbar 5| can receive only a single letter or other character and, therefore, the belt must be 7 moved; the distance of one bar for each keystroke and means is shown in Figures 5 to 9-for producingsuch step by step movement.

In these figures, the shaft 69 has fixed to it one of the sprockets 52 and also a collar 53, the latter ,serving'as an abutment for spring 54 which presses the parts between itself and sprocket 52 tightly against the latter.

Loosely mounted on the shaft 60 between the spring 541and sprocket 52 is a large worm gear 55 and aclutch and escapement member 56 while between the gear 55 and member 56 is a coiled ispring 51, the outerend of which is fixed to gear 55 as by pins 55A and the inner end to member 56 as by pins 56A, and meshed with gear 55 is a 2 small driving worm 53 operated by suitable motor '59 to keep the spring 5'Iat its proper tension.

Theelement 55 is'shown by itself in Figure 6 and consists of a thick disc grooved in its edge as at 55A to coast with a shifting fork 56B and provided with rectangular teeth 550 at one side of said groove. These teeth 58C coact with an "escapement element '6! (see Figure 9) pivoted as Since, it is the spring 5'! that drives the shaft 60, it is desirable that the tension of the spring be maintained 'near a suitable maximum at all times. Such means is shown in Figure 7.

In this figure the shaft 583 carrying the worm 58 is shown as driven through the coaction of a slotted sleeve 59A carried by'the motor 59 and a pin 58C fixed in the shaft 583, this arrangement being used to permit the shaft a small longitudinal movement. 1

The movement of shaft 58B toward the motor is resisted by a suitable spring 59E within the sleeve 59A.

With the parts as shown in Figure '7, the action of spring 59 B will be to maintain the shaft 533 in a position toward the right until the tension of spring 51 has increased to such a degree that it overcomes the spring 593 or, in other Words, until the spring 593 can no longer maintain the shaft 583 at the right against the Winding resistance.

' When this point is reached, the shaft 58B moves to the left and a suitable switch will be operated to break the motor circuit. V

This circuit breaking may be, for example, accomplished by providing'a slip ring or groove I58 on shaft 583 and forked lever I59 actuating contacts I60, in the motor circuit indicated at l6l.

When the tension of spring 5'! drops the shaft 383 will again move to the right and the motor temporarily one of the normally open supply lines 62B. The closing of switch 62A energizes a suitable magnet 62C and at the same time completes a circuit through contacts I62, contacts I63, right hand magnet 62 and return lead I64 to the other side of the supply. Energization of right hand magnet 62 causes the armature end of the element 6| to swing over to the right, allowing contacts I63 to separate and closing contacts [63A, but as this takes place, magnet 62C breaks the circuit at contacts I62 and holds open the circuit through the magnet 62 until the switch 62A is opened.

The nextclosing of the latter energizes the left hand magnet 62 and swings element 6| back to the position shown.

The mechanism just described-Figures 5 to 9-is used during the production of the record and of course may be used during the automatic printing of the record so produced, but for the latter purpose, particularly for the printing of sections of the record, it is preferred to use a sec ond motor 69 connected to drive the belt and controlled in any suitable manner.

The clearing of the'record by elevating all of 55 the pins' may be accomplished by means of a suit able roller, such as is shown in Figure 4 at '95, mounted below the belt and adapted when'lifted to roll over the lower ends of the pins 50 and push them up to undepressed position. .For convenience, the roller may be mounted on suitable levers 96 pivoted coaxially with a sprocket 52 and actuable from its free suitable manner.

In the preparation of a record of which only a part is to be automatically printed, forexample. the writing of a number of letters having diiferent headings or addresses, means is provided for locking all of thekey bars 30 against movement except during the time of passage of that portion to be printed. I

I In order to accomplish this, eachof the pin' bars 5'! will be provided with an additional pin or pins, depending upon how man sections it will be considered desirable to have, and one of these columns will be depressed alongside of the sectionpf the record to be printed, and with suitouter end 91 in any able means, to be described, printing will be prevented except of that part of the record coincident; with this depressed row.

Means for accomplishing this result is. shown in Figures 10, 11 and 14.

In Figures and 11 two alternate forms of 1ocking means are shown, it being understood that either may be used as they are intended to prevent bellcrank 31 dropping between undepressed pins and operating key bars 30.

In Figure 10, adjacent the bellcrank 31 is a small electromagnet 10', the armature H of which is pivoted at T2 and carries a hook 13 which is swung under the bell crank 31 when the magnet is energized.

In Figure 11, a solenoid 10A is shown as actuating a swinging hook 13A about its pivot 12A to under the bell crank 31 when the solenoid is energized.

Either of these locks may be used with the mechanism shown in Figure 14 which shows the lock control for the section printing.

When the typist is preparing th record of that section which is to be automatically reproduced, the key bar A will be depressed and locked down. This action is provided for by the swinging key 3913 having at its lower end a hook 30C adapted to coact with a stationary frame member 15.

The depression of bar 30A pushes down and holds down a roller 16 which then depresses its column of pins 59 as long as the key is down, and in the automatic reproduction of the record, the same roller 16 may be used to prevent printing of any portion of the record except that coincident with this depressed row of pins.

This is accomplished by providing an electric circuit such as is indicated in Figure 14. With the key bar 30A up, and as long as the roller 16 is held up by non-depressed pins 50, the circuit controlled by switch 11 is completed by the closed 5 contacts 18. This circuit is through the locking magnets 10 or 10A which lock the bell cranks 31 against downward movement. When, however, the roller drops, due to reaching depressed pins 50, the circuit is broken at 18 and the bell cranks 31 released for printing. When the end of the row of depressed pins is reached, the roller 16 is again elevated, the circuit re-established, and the bell cranks again locked.

It is of course obvious that there may be individual locks for the several bell cranks 31 or that all may be locked by a single magnet or solenoid.

In order to provide for shift key operation, and the printing of capitals or other shift key characters, another column of pins 50 is added to the bars 5| and the mechanism of Figure 13 used.

In this figure, the shift key bar I3!) is shown as actuating an arm l3! carrying a roller l32 and spring pressed downwardly by a suitable spring I33. So long as the bar $30 is not depressed, the roller I32 is, of course, held up on undepressed pins 50, but in the printing operation, it drops down whenever it comes to depressed pins and, in so doing, actuates the shift mechanism.

In Figure 12 is shown another means which may be used for actuating the recording belt step by step and also means for back spacing.

In this figure, each key bar 33 is shown as actuating a lever 88 which, when the key bar is depressed, closes contacts 8| to complete a circuit through a pair of magnets 82. These then attract the armature 83 pivoted at 8A and carrying the upstanding arm 85, causing the latter to move toward the left. In so moving, the pawl arm 86 pivoted to the top of arm moves. the ratchet wheel 81' the distance of one tooth, being stopped from further movement by the detent 38 carried by arm 85 and acting in conjunction with the reverse ratchet wheel 89 fixed to wheel 81. Both wheels 81 and 83 are fixed to a shaft 90 which in. turn actuates one of the sprockets 52 In this figure the parts are shown at the completion of the movement.

Back spacing is accomplished by moving the swinging. arm 9'5 carrying the pawl 96. This pawl 93 is provided with a nose 91 which is of such length as first to lift the pawl 86- by striking the inclined surface 86A and then engaging one of the teeth in wheel 89.

Suitable springs Hill will be used to effect the reverse movements of the several parts iust described.

As mentioned above, each of the key bars 30 is provided with a notch 32v immediately to the rear of the bell crank 31'. This notch is to provide for the normal operation of the typewriter, and is put in use by moving the frame 203 (indicated only in Figure 1) carrying the pivots and consequently the elements 35, 31 and 4! a short distance rearwardly so as to bring the upper ends of the bellcranks 31 substantially opposite the centers of the notches as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1.

In this figure, there is also indicated means by which the present device may be actuated by remotecontrol from another similarly equipped typewriter or other machine, each of the bell cranks 3! being connected mechanically, as by a wire or rod 20!, to the armature 202 of a magnet or solenoid 203, the energization of which will cause the operation of a key 30.

In Figure 17 a modification of the structure of Figures 1 to 3 is shown. In this figure, showing only a take-off for reproducing a record already made, the bell crank 231 is tilted by one of the elements 50, as in Figures 1 to 3. However, as shown, tilting of crank 23''! is utilized to 'move together a pair of spring electric contacts 23l, mounted on a suitable support 232, and thus complete an electric circuit leading to a suitable solenoid 233 adapted to actuate a key or a corresponding element in a separate reproducing device.

Figure 18 shows another take-off which may be used. In this figure, the tilting element 331, actuable by an element 338' to a valve 339', which, in its idle or rest position, cuts communication between a source of suction or vacuum 340 and a bellows 3M. The movable element 342 may be connected to any suitable mechanism for printing or other operation.

In Figure 19 is illustrated one of the many applications of the present invention. In this figure, at A for example, there may be arranged a typewriter equipped to make the record on the conveyor B, and as the record travels other takeoff devices of any suitable kind operating mechanically, electrically, or pneumatically, may

be placed at suitable locations such as C, D, E, F or G, and each take-off a portion or all of the record. Then as the conveyor passes back to the recording device at A, it may be cleared as by the clearing roll H and a new record made.

Now having described the invention and the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be under stood that the invention is to be limited, not to the specific details herein set forth, but only by the scope of the claims which follow:

l of said member.

-Iclaim: 1. In combination with a typewriter having, de-

pressible keys, recording means comprising conveyor means carrying a pluralityrof depressible elements positioned beneath the said keys and means operably connecting said keys and elements, whereby depression of a key causes the depression of an element, said means consisting of a movable member positioned between said key and said element and acting to transmit the key movement to said. element, means for retaining said element in its depressed position, and means for rendering said member inoperative to transmit such'movement, whereby to prevent key depression movement being transmitted to said depressible elements. 7

2. In combination with the depressilole keys of a typewriter, means for recording and reproducing the operations of said keys, said means consisting of a conveyor means adapted to be moved beneath said keys and provided with a plurality of rows of depressibl e elements, there being as many such rows as there are keys to be recorded and reproduced, a plurality of movement transmitting members positioned between said keys and said rows of depressible elements and each adapted to depress one of the elements when a key is depressed, spring means biased to urge said members toward said keys during recording and means for changing said bias to urge said members toward said elements during reproduction.

' 3 In combination with a depressible typewriter key, conveyor means carrying a row of depressible elements, a tiltable member positioned between said key and said row of elements and movable by thedepression of said key to, in turn, depress one of said elements, means for intermittently moving said conveyor means whereby to present a succeeding element to said key after each operation, means biased to urge resiliently said member toward said key, means to change the direction of the bias to urge said member toward said elements and to thereby, cause'said member to move down upon a previously depressed element and be tilted by a succeeding undepressed element upon further movement of the conveyormeans, and means carried by said key and member and cooperating to depress said key during the tilting 4. In combination with a depressible typewriter key, conveyor means carrying a row of depressible elements, a movable member positioned between said key and said row of elements and movable by the depression of said key to, in turn, depress one of said elements, means for intermittently moving said conveyor means whereby to present a succeeding element to said key after each operation, means biased to urge resiliently said member toward said key, means to change the direction of the bias to urgesaid member toward said elements and to thereby cause said member tomove down'upon a previously depressed element and be tilted by a succeeding undepressed element upon furthermovement of the conveyor means, and means carried by said key and member and cooperating to depress said key during the moving of said member. I

' 5. In combination witha depressible typewriter key, a pivoted crank member positioned beneath the same, a series of depressible elements adapted to be moved beneath said member, means for resiliently supporting said member in position to transmit motion from said key to said elements whereby to depress the latter, means for lowering said crank member to a position wherein an undepressed element will swing it about its pivot, and a projection on said key adapted, when said member is so swung, to cooperate with a portion of said crank to produce depression of said key.

6. Key stroke recording means for use in conjunction with a typewriter, said means comprising conveyor means carrying rows of-recording elements actuable by said keys, moving means including a spring motor tensioned to drive said conveyor means, escapement means between said motor and conveyor means whereby the latter may be caused to move intermittently, and means for maintaining the tension of said motor.

7. In recording means for the key strokes of a typewriter, conveyor means carrying elements actuable by said keys to record said strokes, and drive means therefor, said drive means consisting of a spring motor tensioned to drive said conveyor, escapement means between the conveyor and said motor and adapted to produce intermittent motion of said conveyor, means operably connecting said escapement means and said keys whereby to actuate said escapement means, means Q for maintaining the tension of said motor, and

means for disconnecting said'drive means from said conveyor whereby to permit continuous operation of the latter. 7

8. In recording means for the key strokes of a typewriter, conveyor means carrying elements actuable by said keys to record said strokes, and drive means therefor, said drive means consisting of a motor, escapement means between the conveyor and said motor and adapted to produce intermittent motion of said conveyor; means operably connecting said escapement means and said keys whereby to actuate said escapement means, means for maintaining the driving tension of said motor, and means for disconnecting said drive means from said conveyor whereby to permit continuous operation of the latter. 7

' CARLOS WITTENMYER. 

